CAROL BURNETT: But what happened was Garry was — he had a successful variety show on Tuesday nights, live, and Martha Raye had been scheduled to be a guest — wonderful comedienne — but she got sick.
This one had Judy Garland, the great dancer Fred Astaire, Lena Horne, William Powell, Gene Kelly, Red Skeleton, a famous comedienne, Lucille Ball - these are some of the best-known actors, singers, and comedians of that generation.
A comedian or comic, is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audience directly is called a stand-up comic.